Watipa, in partnership with Mwatipasa in Malawi, is pleased to announce that we will be awarding new scholarships in 2023.
We have chosen a different approach from previous scholarship rounds, to align with the direction of our current strategic focus.
What is new? There are two things that make the scholarships different in 2023 compared with previous years.
The first: this round of scholarship will focus only for students in Malawi.
The second: we will be contacting institutes of higher learning directly to ask them to nominate students who meet the criteria for a Watipa scholarship. In 2023 we will start with those institutes within Malawi where we have already established a connection and previously have supported Watipa scholars.
Will this be the new approach for Watipa scholarships going forward? We will try this approach in 2023 and reflect on its merits later in the year. Watipa is committed to remaining a global and visionary organisation supporting young leaders in Malawi and around the world – and we remain committed to being innovative with our approaches to best meet the immense need for scholarships like ours.
What are the selection criteria for a scholarship? The criteria remain the same in 2023 – that is assessed based on financial need, a vision for ‘paying it forward’ by contributing to community development, and an alignment with the vision and mission of Watipa. The difference in 2023 is that individuals will be nominated by their institutions (rather than applying directly) for a scholarship.
In a nutshell, in 2023, you may be eligible for a scholarship if you are:
- 15 – 25 years of age
- Living in Malawi
- Have secured a place to study, either at an institute of higher education or secondary school. We will consider applicants starting a new course as well as those part-way through.
- Passionate about community development
- Committed to ‘paying it forward’ and giving back to your community
- Identified by your institution as eligible for support and meeting these criteria
Watipa remains an advocate for gender equity, and will always support a majority of female scholars.
What does a scholarship include? The scholarships cover tuition fees (paid directly to the institution of higher learning) and a living expense stipend. The living stipend has been increased in 2023 to correspond to inflation and also to respond to feedback received from cohorts of previous Watipa scholars.
Who administers the scholarships? In Malawi, the scholarships are administered by volunteers with Mwatipasa, our local partner founded in 2017, which is supported with in-kind contributions from Prime Health Consulting Services in Lilongwe.
We congratulate Watipa scholars past, present and future – and continue to be proud of the localised agenda they are furthering to develop their communities.
Together we can move mountains.